Veblen in Perspective - His Life and Thought

This unique work combines an authoritative account of Veblen's life with a thoughtful appraisal of his interdisciplinary analysis of the origins, nature, and persistence of industrial capitalism. The book goes beyond the myth of Veblen's alleged marginality, and advances an original interpretation of his life's work, with special reference to his ethnicity and to evolutionism. In the process, the author considers the intellectual sources and impact of Veblen's critical social thought, and its continued relevance to understanding the economic and cultural dimensions of global capitalism.

List of contents

Chapter 1 The Times, Life, and Works of Thorstein Veblen (1857-1929); Chapter 2 The Mistaken Marginality of the "Man from Mars"; Chapter 3 Beyond the Myth of Marginality: Ethnicity and Evolutionism; Chapter 4 Evolutionary Change: Back to the Future?; Chapter 5 The Conspicuous Conservation of Leisure Class Culture; Chapter 6 The Problem: Predatory Institutions; Chapter 7 The Solution: Workmanship Institutions; Chapter 8 Conclusions;

About the author

Stephen Edgell is Professor of Sociology at the University of Salford, Greater Manchester, England. He is the author of Middle Class Couples: A Study of Segregation, Domination and Inequality in Marriage (1980), and Class (1993); coauthor of A Measure of Thatcherism: A Sociology of Britain (1991); and joint editor of Debating the Future of the Public Sphere (1995) and Consumption Matters: The Production and Experience of Consumption (1996). He has published extensively in British, European, and American journals on Thorstein Veblen and on the sociology of the family, class, work, and politics. He is an elected director of the International Thorstein Veblen Association.

Summary

This work discusses the impact and contemporary relevance of the work of Thorstein Veblen, as well as the source of his ideas. It suggests that he was one of the first modern sociologists of consumption whose analysis of contemporary display and fashion anticipated later theories and research.

Product details

• Authors: Stephen Edgell
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 31.12.2021
• EAN: 9781563241161
• ISBN: 978-1-56324-116-1
• No. of pages: 224
• Weight: 476 g
• Series: Studies in Institutional Economics; Studies in Institutional Economics
• Subjects: Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Philosophy: antiquity to present day; Social sciences, law, business > Business > Economics; SOCIAL SCIENCE / Sociology / General, BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Economics / General, PHILOSOPHY / History & Surveys / Modern, BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Economics / Theory, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Anthropology / General, Economic theory & philosophy, Western philosophy from c 1800, Economic systems and structures, Economic systems & structures, Sociology & anthropology, Sociology and anthropology, Western Philosophy, From C 1900 -, Economic theory and philosophy